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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> Letter from the National Federation of the Blind Regarding the Elimination of IMLS<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pasted below is a letter we sent regarding the instruction in the Executive Order dated March 14, 2025 to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services. I wanted you all to be aware of this as it supports library for the blind operations in the states. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>March 19, 2025<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Honorable Robert Aderholt, Chair<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>272 Cannon House Office Building<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Washington, DC 20515<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2413 Rayburn House Office Building<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Washington, DC 20515<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Honorable Shelly Moore Capito, Chair<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>170 Russell Senate Office Building<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Washington, DC 20510<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Honorable Tammy Baldwin, Ranking Member<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>141 Hart Senate Office Building<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Washington, DC 20510<o:p></o:p></p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><br clear=all style='page-break-before:always'></span><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Chairs Aderholt and Capito, and Ranking Members DeLauro and Baldwin:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, is deeply troubled by the recent executive order regarding the instruction to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Specifically, IMLS funding is essential for many of the state libraries for the blind and print disabled, which serve as a critical source of Braille and other specialized audio books for blind and low-vision Americans. Without this funding, the critical services provided by these libraries will be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether. We call upon the House and Senate Appropriation Subcommittees on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to ensure the Library Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. § 9121) and its supporting Grants to States program (20 U.S.C. § 9141) remain fully funded for the 2025 Fiscal Year and beyond, ensuring the institutions it funds may remain open and operational for all communities served.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>According to the 2023 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 8.3 million blind or low-vision Americans. That is about 2.5 percent of the overall population. According to the most recent census, 66 million Americans live in rural areas. Even if only 1 percent of those living in rural areas are blind or low vision, that still amounts to more than half a million people who are at risk of losing access to a vital source of Braille and other specialized services provided by state libraries for the blind in rural settings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, it won\u2019t only be the blind who are affected by a decrease or elimination of funding. There are an estimated 124,903 libraries across the United States. These locations serve as important centers for community engagement, the furtherance of literacy, extended research, and internet access for Americans in every locality. In rural communities these libraries are doubly essential because they may be the sole source of free available internet, allowing for people to study and research for school assignments, search for employment, and engage with the wider world. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is of the utmost importance that these critical institutions continue to be funded, and we urge you to ensure the funding continues in the next fiscal year appropriation authorization under consideration by your subcommittees. If you have any further questions, or if the National Federation of the Blind can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mark A. Riccobono, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>